I just bought a boat with a Mercury 1150 outboard and it wont start

[JRsportsman]

My question is: what do I have to do before even trying to start my engine? My boat has been sitting for over a year uncovered and ive got dry rott on the wiring harness which i plan to replace and rewire as nesscery. I am fimilure with wires and diagrams and such being an electrician but I am a new boat owner and i do some mechanical work as well, so needless to say I can tackle just about anything with a diagram or manual. I plan on getting a service manual for it soon b4 I start getting into the engine.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I just bought a boat with a Mercury 1150 outboard and it wont start

JR - The Merc inline sixes had two kinds of ign systems. The early ones had a distributor ignition powered by the battery. Later mercs had a 6 coil Alternator Driven ignition. Parts of the early ign systems are a bit scarse and expensive, so try not to mess them up.

I will guess you have a distributor ignition.

The distributor rotor is not replaceable. The cap and switchbox are expensive. Clean the cap but careful not to file the brass contacts too much. Ditto on the rotor. Check the carbon electrode for spring load. The switchbox red wire is always hot (+12VDC). The white wire below it is hot when the ign switch is on. Clean up the wiring harness before trying to start it.

Carbs must be clean. Watch the plug leads for arcing. It pays to perform link and sync to assure the idle and max timing are correct.

 

[lprizman]

Re: I just bought a boat with a Mercury 1150 outboard and it wont start

What boat manufacturer is it is and what is the age?
You will have to also deall with all the fuel lines,plugs and filters prior to starting.

 

[JB]

Re: I just bought a boat with a Mercury 1150 outboard and it wont start

Go to the Engine FAQs Forum and do "Awakening a sleeping outboard".

 

[JRsportsman]

Re: I just bought a boat with a Mercury 1150 outboard and it wont start

cool, thanks guys im going to try and do all that and ill let u guys know. The boat is a 1986 Tidecraft vr90, 15 ft runabout. The hull appears to be in great shape from looking it over inside and out. Its got heavy oxidation from sitting in the elaments for quite some time but i've herd that a little T.L.C. will take care of that.

 

[Caleb Darkstar]

Re: I just bought a boat with a Mercury 1150 outboard and it wont start

Something else you might check is your fuel pump. I recently had to put a rebuild kit into mine (can't get new anymore}. The checvalves where hanging open and allowing fuel to run back out. Good indicater that it needs repair is to pump your primer ball. if it loosens up quickly it may need a fuel pump kit. Of course the best way to test it is to hook a hose on the out end and crank the motor a bit.

 

[j_martin]

Re: I just bought a boat with a Mercury 1150 outboard and it wont start

First thing to do is run a compression check on it. If it isn't good, ya might as well quit unless it's worth a lot of money to you.

If it's good, then check out the wiring, ignition, fuel pump etc. You can pop it once or twice for a couple of seconds to see if it's gonna go.

THEN replace the trashed out water pump impeller. If it wasn't bad to start with, the above moves did it in.

Supply water, start it up, and adjust yer idle.

If you've already replaced the impeller, leave the LU off till you get to the point of needing cooling.

hope it helps
John